The Easter legal term ended on Friday 23 May and the Trinity Term will start on Tuesday 3 June 2025 and will end on Thursday 31 July 2025.

Boxing promotor, Frank Warren has settled his defamation lawsuit against Chris Eubank Jr following a preliminary issues judgement earlier this month. Warren brought the case after after Eubank Jr called him a “scumbag” and accused him of lying and cheating during a live press conference in Saudi Arabia last year that was subsequently shared online. Although Eubank Jr later apologised and retracted his statements, Warren proceeded with legal action. At the conclusion of the hearing, Jay J strongly encouraged both parties to mediate the dispute. Warren released a statement explaining that the lawsuit had been “settled amicably” and that the pair “look forward to a positive, professional relationship in future.” The Independent, TalkSport, Daily Record and Boxing News Online covered the development.

Internet and Social Media

The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has expressed satisfaction with the compliance measures taken by Meta, clearing the way for the company to use public posts from European users to train its AI systems starting May 27, according to The Register. The DPC said Meta had addressed previous privacy concerns by improving transparency, simplifying the opt-out process, extending notice periods, and enhancing data protection measures. Meta will also be required to submit a report in October evaluating the effectiveness of its safeguards.

Clean Up the Internet has published its submission to the European Commission’s consultation on the draft Online Safety Act Guidance on violence against women and girls.

Data privacy and data protection

A new report by Open Rights Group urges Meta to reform its business model to comply with data protection laws, following a landmark legal case won by human rights campaigner Tanya O’Carroll in March 2025. The case confirmed that users have the right to opt out of profiling for targeted ads, prompting expectations that Meta will extend its “consent or pay” model to UK users—forcing them to either pay for ad-free access or allow their data to be used for advertising. However, the report argues this model is unlawful unless a free, tracking-free version is also offered.

The EU is planning to amend its landmark data protection legislation, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), in an attempt to reduce reporting requirements for smaller companies and foster competitiveness. The proposed reforms would extend exemptions from detailed data processing records to firms with fewer than 750 employees. While the European Commission insists the core principles of the GDPR remain intact, 108 civil society groups, academics and companies have expressed concern that the changes could weaken accountability and precipitate further deregulation and have called on the European Commission to reject any reopening of the GDPR. Read the joint letter in full here. Politico, Euractiv, Forbes and InfoSecurity Magazine covered the developments.

Surveillance

FBI Director, Kash Patel, has shut down the bureau’s internal auditing office, which was set up in 2020 to investigate misuse of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The office was intended to address concerns that the law, was being used to surveil Americans—in particular supporters of Donald Trump— without proper oversight, rather than than foreign targets as intended. His decision to dismantle the oversight team has sparked renewed concerns about privacy rights and could intensify debate ahead of the Act’s scheduled renewal in 2026. The New York Times, The Guardian and The Independent have more information.

Newspaper Journalism and regulation

US investment firm Redbird Capital Partners has agreed to buy The Telegraph for $500 million, ending nearly two years after negotiations began. Under the deal, a consortium of British and overseas investors would own the newspaper titles, including a minority share owned by Abu Dhabi state-sponsored firm, International Media Investments (IMI). Originally, IMI sought a majority stake, however the previous government introduced legislation which capped foreign state ownership at 15%. The Telegraph, The Guardian, BBC, The Press Gazette, Sky News, Financial Times, The New York Times, Reuters, CNN and Citywire covered the story.

IPSO

Statements in open court and apologies

On 22 May 2025, the Home Office delivered an agreed Statement in Open Court at the High Court in Belfast in settlement of the libel proceedings brought by the Northern Irish construction company FP McCann and its directors. In March 2024, the Home Office published a press release about an immigration raid at a construction site, which include false and defamatory statements that the claimants had been fined for illegally employing 5 contractors at one of their sites. In addition to the Statement, the Home Office published an apology and correction by email and on its website, paid substantial damages and covered the claimants’ reasonable legal costs. The Open Statement is available in full here. ITV, Belfast Telegraph, The Irish News and the BBC reported on the proceedings.

New Issued cases

There was one new defamation (libel and slander) claim filed on the media and communication list last week.

Last week in the courts

On Tuesday 20 May 2025, there was a hearing in the case of Marinakis v Karipidou KB-2024-001325.

On Wednesday 21 May 2025, there was a hearing in the defamation case of Tattersall v Tattersall QB-2022-002867.

On the same day, there were hearings in the case of Siniakovich v.  Nivin Hassan -Soudey, Glass Door Homeless Charity and Matthew Falk KB-2025-001276.

On Thursday 22 and Friday 23 May 2025, there was a hearing before Johnson J in the case of Amersi v British Broadcasting Corporation KB-2022-003244.

On Thursday 22 May 2025, there was a trial of a preliminary issue on meaning in the case of Smart Shirts Limited v Sheffield Hallam University – KB-2023-004736. Nicklin J gave an ex tempore judgement.

Media law in other jurisdictions

Australia

The Guardian reports that lawyer, Adam Houda has filed a defamation claim against Sky News Australia and broadcaster Andrew Bolt for accusing him of being “a Jew hater” in an article and two broadcasts of the program, The Bolt Report. The defendants are relying on the claimant’s conduct, and in particular his historic social media activity, to plead the defence of truth. In May 2024, Sky News apologised to Houda for the false imputation that he “was not fit to practice as a lawyer and that he both threatens and engages in litigation against the police without proper cause,” and removed the video from its platforms.

Canada

Vancouver Mayor, Ken Sim has filed a defamation lawsuit against his former chief of staff Kareem Allam and local businessman Alex Tsakumis, accusing them of spreading false rumours that he was pulled over for drunk driving and let off by police. Sim alleges that Allam made these claims in private conversations, intending for them to be shared publicly, while Tsakumis posted the accusations on social media. Sim argues the statements show a “wanton and flagrant disregard” for his reputation. CBC, Vancouver Sun, MSN and CTV News reported on the lawsuit.

Hungary

Almost 100 editors-in-chief and publishers from 23 European countries have urged the EU to take action over Hungary’s proposed legislation that they say will “effectively outlaw[ing] the free press.” The Bill would give sweeping powers to a government office to monitor, penalise, and potentially shut down organisations deemed a threat to national sovereignty—particularly those receiving foreign funding. The legislation could target independent media and NGOs, allowing authorities to blacklist them, inspect their finances and communications, and impose severe fines or closure. The Guardian and Voxeurop have more information.

Jordan

25 civil society groups, including Article 19 and Human Rights Watch have signed a joint letter condemning an order issued by the Jordanian Media Commission for ISPs to block at least 12, mainly independent, media outlets. The order did not offer a legal basis for the blocks, instead relying on vague justifications such as ‘spreading media poison’ and the outlets did not have an opportunity to appeal the decision.

Moldova

The ECtHR handed down judgment in the case of Iordan v The Republic of Moldova (Application no 10870/15). The applicant was a judge who was the subject of false corruption allegations made against him by a journalist. The domestic courts refused to punish the journalist in administrative offence proceedings, as he had not known the real facts at the time of publication and therefore had not deliberately disseminated false information and did not firmly state that he had witnessed an act of corruption. The Court held that there was no violation of Article 8, as the domestic courts applied the factors relevant to the balancing test and noted that the extent they were able to do so was somewhat limited due to the applicant’s pursuit of a criminal remedy, rather than a civil defamation action.

Palestine

Seventeen prominent Jewish UK journalists, including Robert Peston, Emily Maitlis, and Jon Sopel, issued a renewed call for Israel and Egypt to allow international media access to Gaza, arguing that the ongoing ban severely restricts accurate and independent reporting. In an open letter, they stress that “local media have done an extraordinary job reporting on events while themselves being displaced, hungry and at constant risk, but they should not carry this burden alone.” The letter challenges claims that safety concerns justify the ban, asserting that experienced war correspondents are capable of managing risk and must be allowed to report freely to ensure global accountability. The Press Gazette published the letter in full and The Jewish Chronicle, The National Scot and Jewish News reported on the action.

Samoa

Press freedom groups have called for the repeal of criminal libel laws after a veteran journalist and President of the Journalists Association of Samoa was charged under the Crimes Act 2013 for publishing an article accusing a former police officer of seeking support from the Head of State to have charges against him withdrawn. The International Federation of Journalists described the criminal charges as “legal harassment” and urged for the law to be amended. Asia Pacific Report and RNZ have more information.

Turkey

Privacy International has published the ‘Free To Protest’ guide, setting out the country’s laws and policies in relation to protest. It analyses the law enforcement and surveillance tools used in the context of protest and explains the data protection laws protecting privacy rights.

United States

President Trump signed the Take It Down Act into law, making it a federal crime to knowingly share or threaten to share intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes, without consent. The legislation, which was lobbied for by First Lady Melania Trump and received overwhelming bipartisan support, requires online platforms to remove such content within 48 hours of a victim’s request. However, critics have warned that the bill’s broad scope could lead to censorship and potential government overreach into private communications. The BBC, Guardian, USA Today, Al Jazeera, NBC and The Independent covered the development. Socially Aware blog, Electronic Frontier Foundation and Latham & Watkins LLP have more information.

Research and Resources

Next week in the courts

There are no hearings scheduled for next week.

Reserved judgements

Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon v Associated Newspapers, 6 and 7 May 2025 (Nicklin J).

Clarke v Guardian News and Media, 4 March – 4 April and 11 April 2025 (Steyn J).

This Round Up was compiled by Jasleen Chaggar who is the Legal and Policy Officer at Big Brother Watch.